Chapter 10: TCGGM

“Shin is really good at analysis.”

That was something his older brother had told Isin when he was young, while he was acting as a GM.

The GM status window was infamous.

In most games, a status window exists to convey information.

It lowers the barrier to entry by summarizing a character’s condition or progress through a few intuitive keywords.

But the GM system was the opposite.

Its status window was extremely complex. Not intuitive at all.

Just looking at the screen filled with dense black text made one think, “Why am I studying while playing a game?”

However, young Isin actually liked that notorious status window.

It was fascinating to him how scattered pieces of information in his mind would assemble into a single picture. He also enjoyed the sense of superiority—seeing what others could not see.

Above all, he liked the praise from his brother.

Perhaps those good memories from back then were what turned Isin into such a “hardcore veteran.”

On the road down to Busan, at the moment the acquisition process was completed, the long-awaited status windows finally opened before his eyes.

【 Guild has been registered. 】

【 ‘Guild Management Window’ has been activated. 】

[ Guild Management Window ]

※ Mir Guild

• League 4
• Representative: Isin
• Strategy: 14/100
• Reputation: 40/100
• Finance: 5/100
• Facilities: 33/100
• Orientation: Defensive
• Value: 3.17 billion

·

·

“Wow, this is it. A guild has to be this bad if it’s going to be on the verge of collapse.”

“Sir?”

“Shh, wait a second, hyung.”

In the wave of information flooding his vision, Isin extracted what he needed, analyzed it, judged the situation, and immediately came up with a plan.

“Hyung Dongha.”

“Yes.”

“We’ve got work to do.”

“What should I do?”

“That is—”

If those who placed an oxygen mask on the “dragon in the ICU” known as the Mir Guild were the fans, then there were also parasites who had been feeding on the dragon’s marrow, eventually sending it to the ICU.

“Bring me deworming medicine. We’ll start by getting rid of the parasites.”

The first thing he had to do after officially taking ownership of the guild—

was exterminating those parasites.

Right now, Isin was looking at the people he defined as “parasites.”

They were so well-fed they looked plump.

“Ha… haha… You’re talking about transfers?”

“W-what do you mean?”

Everyone in the raid team looked at each other with question marks above their heads.

But no matter how they looked at it, they wouldn’t find an answer. Insects think like insects.

“Mm~ exactly what I said. Transfers. From tomorrow, you no longer need to come to the Mir Guild. Talk to your agents about your new teams. Anyone without an agent? You’ll probably get contacted directly. Oh—someone’s phone is ringing already. Yes, that person too.”

As soon as he finished speaking, vibrations rang out everywhere.

Several people hurriedly checked their messages, and their faces turned pale.

It was a unilateral notice of transfer.

“Max Guild? Isn’t that the place we fought over territory with before? If I go there, I’ll die!”

“This is insane… transfers can just happen like this?”

“What the—Enchovy? Where is that? Huh? A 5th-tier guild?”

Confusion, panic, chaos.

Just moments ago, everything had seemed bright. They had thought: Isin is the grandson of the Iyo Group, and they’re rich—of course contracts will be renewed, maybe even salary negotiations…

But that optimism turned out to be poison.

“We, we don’t accept this! How can you transfer us without even consulting us?”

“This is invalid! This kind of ambush transfer is ridiculous!!”

As protests erupted from all sides, Isin scratched his head.

“Listen. In case you didn’t know, transfers are the exclusive authority of management. It’s not something you get a say in.”

Tch. People who should know better are acting like amateurs.

At Isin’s firm attitude, the raid members turned to their last hope—Team Leader Yang Panseok.

“Hyung!”

“Team leader!”

“What’s going to happen to us?”

“You said if we played it right, renewal was guaranteed…”

“……Quiet!”

Despite the situation spiraling out of control, Yang Panseok forced himself to keep smiling.

He was angry and confused, but first he needed to understand the situation. Only then could he fix it.

“Please explain. What exactly is going on here?”

Clap clap!

“Excellent. You can still smile in a situation like this! Everyone, that’s what being a pro looks like. A pro keeps their pace no matter what. Unlike people who panic like you.”

“Stop joking around.”

“That’s a compliment. Seriously. They say those who laugh in pain are the elite.”

“……Don’t test my patience.”

“Relax, relax. Alright, I’ll just finish this drink.”

Fizz—

The beer bubbles were refreshing.

Even though the atmosphere was now bordering on murderous, Isin calmly enjoyed the aftertaste, then flipped a chair around and sat on it backward, arms crossed, scanning the room.

“Let me ask you something. Do I have any obligation to keep you with me?”

“W-well—!”

Obligation.

Even though they were furious, that single word shut them up.

Because there was no answer to it.

“Too hard? Let me make it easier. Tell me a reason I must be responsible for you. Logical, moral—anything works.”

With the bar lowered, they began to speak hesitantly.

Most of it was useless.

Those whining with random excuses—skipped.

Those sobbing about sick mothers and wives—too cliché, skipped.

Those groveling without even knowing what they did wrong—also skipped.

Only two arguments were even worth hearing.

“You can’t just transfer people without even discussing it! At least give us time to prepare!”

“I’ve devoted 20 years to the Mir Guild. I can’t accept this kind of ambush transfer!”

Pathetic as it was, Isin decided to honor their words and respond properly.

“True. Transfers are usually done after proper discussion. However—”

That is merely etiquette, or custom.

It has never been written into law anywhere.

“Also, a small note—those customs only apply from League 2 and above. Sorry to say, but you’re in League 4. Not applicable.”

Next.

“Twenty years of devotion, impressive. Really. While younger hunters are job-hopping every 2–3 years to raise their value, you stayed for 20 years. That loyalty deserves applause. But—”

His eyes, previously curved in a smile, sharpened.

“If you were so devoted… why are your results like this?”

Performance isn’t everything—but in this world, sometimes it is.

If you’re a professional, you must prove your worth through results.

And Mir Guild was currently League 4.

“So isn’t it reasonable to say there’s something seriously wrong with that so-called devotion? That’s what I think.”

“……”

“……”

Ding-ding-ding—! Down!

A merciless truth knockout.

The raid team was mentally defeated in an instant.

But just as everyone lowered their heads in despair—

“Do you really think there won’t be consequences for this?”

Yang Panseok stepped forward.

Even in despair, a leader tries to find an exit. And in that sense, he was competent.

Unlike the others, he quickly analyzed Isin and chose his stance.

“The fans won’t stay quiet. Even if our devotion means nothing to the new representative, do you think fans who’ve endured the dark years will accept this?”

When performance fails, appeal to emotion.

He shifted the battlefield.

And then—Isin responded.

“Kyaha… using fans as hostages. I can’t believe I’m seeing this live.”

He was genuinely impressed.

Truly moved to the point of tears.

Of course, Isin knew exactly what kind of character Yang Panseok was.

He had even “played through the story ending” with him before.

Decent stats, decent traits, good looks, marketable, flexible—a versatile tank.

But he had fatal flaws.

Excessive ego, believing he was the best: “Hero Complex” and “Snake’s Tail.”

Blame-shifting and thick-faced shamelessness when responsibility was needed.

Most importantly—hidden under the guise of caring for fans, he was actually driven by superiority and elitism as a hunter.

Because of these negative traits, Isin’s evaluation of Yang Panseok was simple:

Trash-tier.

Not someone to keep around unless you were roleplaying a villain.

“Alright. You’re done talking, right? Then it’s my turn.”

“Hey, sister, hand me that.”

At his gesture, the woman standing slightly behind him handed over a file.

So unnoticed that even the agitated crowd was startled.

“Here. Take it. My counterattack.”

The moment Yang Panseok opened the document—

his eyes widened as if they might tear.

Construction company kickbacks, equipment company bribes, broadcasting rights manipulation, scouting corruption—

a full list of creative illegal schemes tied to the raid team.

“Didn’t you say earlier that the guild’s foundation was hunters, and that investment should never be spared for improving hunter performance?”

By that logic, Yang Panseok’s name should be in the “hunter” column.

Because the guild’s real core was him—and investments were being made to enrich him.

And whenever that fragile “philosophy” cracked—this was the trigger.

“Everything for the fans! For their support! Ugh, I’m so busy. Fans have lives too, let them rest.”

The confidence on Yang Panseok’s face vanished.

His once righteous expression twisted into something feral, muttering curses under his breath.

Then he stared directly at Isin.

Should I kill him?

For someone who lived off image rather than skill, if this got exposed, it wouldn’t end with mere backlash.

Criminal charges. Lawsuits.

The thought only made Isin’s neck look more tempting.

The killing intent filled the room.

At that moment, a female bodyguard stepped in front of Isin, her hand sliding into her pocket.

A split second from explosion.

But Isin’s reaction was—

“Pfft. Pathetic.”

He laughed.

Mocking him like it was ridiculous.

He stood up from the chair.

“Move.”

“……”

“I said don’t make me repeat myself.”

For the first time, the bodyguard hesitated.

An unknown pressure filled the air.

Then Isin stepped forward.

Standing right in front of Yang Panseok.

“Two choices. First: raise your hand and try to kill me.”

He took a step closer.

Yang Panseok instinctively stepped back.

“Didn’t think so. That’s just who you are.”

Weak to the strong. Strong to the weak.

A textbook “bully-up, coward-down” type.

“Then the second choice. Spit out everything you stole and transfer quietly.”

“Kh…”

“Or do you want prison?”

Smiling, Isin closed in.

“You can do the math, right? Might as well walk away with something rather than nothing.”

The moment Yang Panseok lost control, it was over.

Isin just had to decide how to carve up the remains.

After some thought, this was the best outcome.

Causing noise would only damage value.

Revealing corruption would reduce guild worth and ruin resale value.

He wasn’t going to waste that.

“I’m really too soft-hearted. Even trash like you, I still take care of.”

“Decision made?”

“….”

“Good. That’s agreement.”

He patted Yang Panseok’s shoulder, then smiled.

Turning around, he spoke.

“Everyone, listen carefully. I have a list—including every coffee mix you’ve secretly taken.”

“So behave, declare it yourselves, and keep your mouths shut.”

“If this becomes noisy again?”

He smiled faintly.

“I’ll make sure to ruin you in the name of my grandfather.”

The room froze.

Satisfied, Isin clapped his hands.

“That took longer than expected, but I hope that was clear enough. It was fun. This meal’s on me—eat well.”

“May fortune follow you.”

With that, Isin and the bodyguard left.

Inside the ruined hall, Yang Panseok and his group could not move for a long time.